i
Rehabilitation of the Aberdare Forest Ecosystem
A Project implemented by the Green Belt Movement and supported by the
French Agency for Development
A report of the Mid Term Review Mission
(
CIRAD Consultancy Team, Nairobi, September, 17 - October 02, 2009)iii
Acknowledgements
The consultancy team wishes to acknowledge the many people who were involved in different capacities to enable the realization of this evaluation mission and its corresponding midterm review report.
The different Project stakeholders from the government: Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Forest Service and the Water Resources Management Authority for their time and support; the donor community: the French Agency for Development, in particular, the United States Agency for International Development and The World Bank for their time and very valuable insight, staff of the Green Belt Movement both in the field and head office, the members of the Tree Nursery Groups and Networks, Green Rangers and Green Volunteers who gave so generously of their time and ideas.
Also we acknowledge comments of the members of the Project steering organs-the Project Steering Committee and the Local Coordination Units whom we were able to interview. We would like to express in particular our appreciation of the many useful comments made by Professor Wangari Maathai- Chair/Founder/ Board Member, during the presentation of the draft report.
Specifically, we wish to acknowledge, Ms Mercy Karunditu, Project Officer at Green Belt Movement, who not only programmed the Mid term review mission, but also involved herself very much in the mission and arranged the appropriate contacts, and Ms Hilda Kegode, assistant at CIRAD regional offices in Nairobi, who gave all her efforts to type and edit this report.
v
Executive Summary
1. The Mid Term Review of the Rehabilitation of the Aberdare Forest Ecosystem Project which is funded by AFD (Agence Française de Développement) and implemented by GBM (Green Belt Movement) was carried out from September 17th to October 2nd 2009 by 3 consultants: Denis Depommier, Agroforestry expert and Regional Director, CIRAD-Nairobi, Munene Kabengi, independent Development Consultant from Kenya, and Dominique Louppe, Senior Forestry Expert, CIRAD-Montpellier.
2. The main objective of the review was to formulate an independent and reasoned opinion on the Project, and specifically to: assess its progress towards its stated goals, assess the Project approach and methodology, identify constraints hindering such progress, provide recommendations for the remaining Project implementation period, and recommendations for a possible continuation / reorientation of the Project.
Part 1: Analysis of the context of the Project
- Kenya environment, rural development and management of natural resources.
3. Poverty, high population density, increasing needs for agricultural land, energy and building materials from wood in Central Kenya are the main causes of the degradation of the forests of the Aberdare range. As a result, close canopy forests of the country – including the Aberdare range- have regressed from 2.8% a century ago to 1.7% nowadays.
4. The new Forest Act of 2005 brings a new community based approach in the management of the forests. Participation of local population, through associations (CFA) and forest management plans in which they have real interests and significant returns is the basis of an integrated and sustainable management of the forests.
5. Kenya has a high biodiversity that is an important source of livelihood, especially for poor people in rural areas who may have a strong traditional ecological knowledge of native species and their management – and notably make large use of non woody products such as medicinal products, wild honey and fruits.
6. Mountain forests which are referred to as Kenya’s five “water towers” (of which the Aberdare Range,) can be used to delineate the upper watersheds of the major rivers which drain into the arid and semi-arid lands and are an indispensable source of water to grow crops, raise livestock, and support wildlife. They are also the main source of water and hydro-electricity for urban areas, particularly to Nairobi. The degradation of forests and other permanent ground covers of these water towers already had some dramatic consequences such as the drying up of many sources and the transformation of permanent rivers into temporary ones; so dams are running below their full capacities. Restoration of the tree cover in these water towers is a national priority. Fighting deforestation, illegal logging, overgrazing, etc. will not be possible without impacting on the local populations and their commitment. The Green Belt Movement 30 years of experience in tree planting in farmlands, its capacity to create awareness, and mobilize these populations are major assets to answer such a challenge.
7. The Aberdare range is situated in the heart of the Central Province and has been subjected to intensive tectonic disturbance and subsequent volcanic activity. It belongs as
vi well to the “Afromontane and Bamboo” bio geographic region. Climate is determined by altitude and wind exposition which affect rainfall. The highest annual rainfall is observed in the centre of the Aberdare range and on its Eastern and South Eastern slopes (P> 1500 mm/year) whereas the Southern and Western sides receive only 1000 to 1200 mm, even at high altitude (2500 m). Soils on the upper Eastern slopes of the mountain are of basaltic origin, dark reddish brown in colour, very deep, well drained clays which are naturally highly fertile (of alkaline nature). Soils on the Western side are more variable, being of medium to high fertility but interspersed with areas of lower fertility and poor drainage.
8. Socio-economic traits: More than 80% of the population of the Aberdare Region is rural.The population density is high: 278 inhabitants/km² 10 years ago, with densities of 450 to 550 in some districts and that may lie between 600 and 700 inhabitants/km² in 2009. The working force is composed of a majority of agriculturalists – Kikuyu for most of them. Maasai pastoralists and their livestock, seasonally occupy parts of Eastern side of the range such as the Kikuyu escarpment. The poverty line reaches 30 to 40% of that rural population. 9. Agro-ecological zones and land use in the Aberdare: Agriculture is the dominant land use: mixed farming (dairy cattle, food, and cash crops) characterizes this highly productive agricultural land, with large use of water from neighbouring forests.
Land use can be classified according to the following zones: 1- The National Park (76700 ha) well protected thanks to its total fencing, altitude 2500-4000 m, vegetation: sub-alpine and alpine moorlands, close-canopy forests, bamboo forests; 2- The Gazetted Forests: altitude 2000-2500 m : higher elevations include most of Kenya’s densest and multilayered tree cover, but forests are locally much degraded; 3- The Tea-Dairy zone: altitude 1800- 2300 m, steep to very steep valley sides, high rainfall; tea which extended at the expenses of the forest, is dominated by small scale farmers, co-existing with big estates.
10. Forests and tree plantations in Aberdare cover about 148,000 ha and are part of the larger Aberdare forest ecosystem, including: the forest reserve (99,265 ha), the Kikuyu escarpment (36335 ha), and the Kipipiri Forest reserve (3900 ha) and the national park (76700 ha) – viz. a total of 216,200 ha; of which indigenous natural forests represent 36%, bamboo forests 33%, trees plantations 17%, grassland and bushland 14%.
11. Forest threats and management in the Aberdare range: The 2002 aerial survey carried out by UNEP shows an important level of destruction of the forest ecosystem surrounding the National Park by illegal activities such as charcoal production, tree logging, cultivation and overgrazing. But the electrical fences recently erected around the park should reduce the threats on it and allow the reconstitution of the natural resources, forest and water notably, Planting indigenous trees inside the fences should be a good opportunity to accelerate the reconstitution of the native forests (in 2006, the degraded forest to be rehabilitated in six initially targeted districts of the Project was estimated to 6,930 ha). The comparative aerial views (1987-2002) show also an extension of tree planting in farmlands.
vii 12. Aberdare and wood production: Since the total ban on timber harvesting imposed in 1999, pressure on trees in farmlands and illegal cutting of wood continues irreparably in gazetted forests and plantations, whereas KFS plantations of exotic species in Gazetted areas could provide an important part of the timber production of the country.
- National legal frameworks:
13. The 2005 Forests Act, addresses national and global challenges: the management of non gazetted forests and the participation of local communities and other stakeholders in forest management. This new Participatory Forest Management (PFM) approach is to be applied through memorandum of understanding between Community Forest Association (CFA) and KFS and appropriate forest management plan. GBM, through its own networks, and natural links with CFA is involved in the preparation of certain PFM plans that have been designed for various areas including the Aberdare and developed with the local populations. 14. The 2002 Water Act led notably to the separation of the management of water resources from the provision of water services (now under a Water Services Regulatory Board), and of water and sanitation from the management of water resources, the decentralization of functions to lower level state organs (7 regional Water Services Boards) and the involvement of non-government entities in the management of water resources as well as in the provision of water services. An autonomous Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) was established aiming to manage and protect Kenya’s water resources.
15. Land rights, land registration and land ownership in Kenya are complex. The Agriculture Act, besides its agricultural objectives, is to provide for the preservation of the soils and their fertility, including soil and water conservation measures; and restrictions on (tree) vegetation clearing and grazing in fragile ecosystems.
16. Wildlife management is not considered as a land use. But KWS, on behalf of the State has authority to manage it, and this authority extends to both protected and unprotected areas. Fencing of the parks or reserves reduces the conflicts between humans and wildlife; and Participatory Forest Management plans will better associate communities to wildlife and indigenous forests based activities such as eco-tourism.
- GBM vision and approach:
17. The Green Belt Movement is a community-based NGO focussing on environmental conservation, community empowerment and capacity building; funded in 1977 by Prof. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. GBM vision is to create a value-driven society of people who consciously work for continued improvement of their livelihoods and a greener, cleaner Kenya. GBM Phase 1 (1977-1997) focused on planting trees on farms with women and was a notable success. GBM Phase 2 (from 1998) “Tree planting on public lands” focuses on the planting of indigenous trees to enhance the impact of environmental conservation and to preserve local biological diversity. Simultaneously individuals and groups are encouraged to continue planting trees on their farms.
18. The GBM/AFD Aberdare Reforestation Project was initiated in 2006, through the French Agency for Development (AFD) funding in continuation with a feasibility study. It is part of GBM second phase and focuses on watershed conservation issues. AFD funding of €
viii 1,300,000 constitutes 61.7% of the Project budget. GBM contribution and local communities provide respectively 5.5% and 32.8% (in kind for this last figure). In brief, the Project covers 13 constituencies of the Central Province on the Western, Southern and Eastern slopes of the Aberdare range. This Project was to rehabilitate 2000ha of degraded sites within gazetted forests and to plant trees on public sites. Women groups have been targeted as the main actors of the rehabilitation of degraded forests through the plantation of indigenous tree species. The Project also aims at improving livelihoods of the communities through the diversification of their activities disseminating forest protection initiatives, and creating the conditions for replicating this Project for full rehabilitation of the watersheds of Kenya. Part 2: Project diagnosis, organization and management
19. The Project was initially affected by an important staff turnover in its management which affected its development and expected progress. Since 2008, the Project is implemented by Mercy Karunditu, a Project officer with an MSc in Agroforestry and Rural Development. The Head of the Project directly interacts with all Extension Officers at constituency level who are assisted by the Green Volunteers who are in charge of networks of nursery groups and the Green Rangers who provide security services in planted gazetted sites. 20. Five Local Coordination Units (LCU), recently created, perform the steering role at field level. A LCU is made up of a GBM Extension Officer, the KFS forester in charge of the Forest Station, the Aberdare National Park senior warden, the area Agriculture Extension Officer, the local Water Officer, local leaders (e.g. Councillor).
21. The Steering Committee (SC), made up of five members (GBM, AFD, KFS, KWS, Ministry of Water and Irrigation), meets on notice on matters to ensure that the Project is progressing in the intended direction but higher frequency and consistency of the meetings, for action, more commitment from certain members of SC, and formalized links with the LCU are necessary.
22. The GBM AFD Project is implemented at the sub-location level (the smallest administrative unit in the country), and managed at the constituency level, the political unit of the country. A reflection on the (spatial) reality of watershed concept and management should be taken into an account for the best efficiency. To facilitate the quick address of more global issues of the Project like the watershed management concept, the recruitment of a Programme Officer should now be done without more delay.
23. Monitoring and evaluation: The reporting of all the activities of the Tree Nursery Groups, from the group creation to 24 months after planting, is based on the 10 steps procedure and on 12 forms that are to be filled out at each step. The institution starts with Form 4, which indicates that a group has formally come into the GBM fraternity after being duly registered with the Ministry of Culture and Social Services. Through Form 5, the group will report the number of seedlings raised in the nursery, through a number of other forms, the group will report all actions in the field up to six months after planting when the group does its survival count. Most of these actions are done under the supervision of the extension officers. All these forms are received and submitted to the head office by the extension officers; and data is keyed into the data base system. Plans are under way to link it with the GIS and Financial system.
As the objectives of the follow up are also to improve the procedures and the knowledge based upon experience, the forms need to be modified to take the species comportment into
ix account. As the knowledge of the species behaviour is essential for the future, a new procedure to statistically follow the planted parcels has to be build up to include the survival rate per species at 6, 12 and 18 months after planting and to include the measurement of the height of the transplants 24 months after planting.
24. GBM needs to conduct self evaluations from time to time to determine the direction of the various Projects it is implementing. Impact monitoring started after the recruitment of a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in April 2009. It would be expected that methodologies will be developed to systematically collect information on variables of impact, such as: environmental, food security, IGA and peoples’ livelihoods improvement, empowerment, winning people to environmental conservation (at higher levels).
25. External expertise is low; the biodiversity study was not done as early as initially expected, the socio-economic study has not been conducted yet and external expertise has been used very little to assist in technical aspects. Environmental baseline study is essentially informative but it is a starting point for further comparative studies. The socio-economic study is essential to understand the uses of the compensation grants and to know how they contribute to the poverty alleviation in the Project area and should also focus on the socio-economic impacts of GBM older tree plantations.
26. Relationship with the Project donor, interaction with other donors: Some donors of GBM are acting in the Aberdare area on same or similar issues: AFD and USAID on Tree and Watershed issues and WB on Trees and Bio Carbon issues. They regularly meet and basic information (reports, etc) is exchanged between these Projects, their managers and donors. As AFD and USAID Projects have common objectives, work with the same categories of communities and stakeholders, and are facing the same challenges, they should interact more, notably at methodological and impact evaluation levels; and reciprocal participation in the respective steering committees. Acting with GBM, the World Bank does not finance any tree-planting Project; in contrast, the WB has a trust fund that aims to pay for bio-carbon sequestration; but carbon price in that Project is very low and below the actual rate and should be negotiated in the future. Actually, AFD is funding GBM planting in bio-carbon sites in addition to the Project. Carbon sequestration using indigenous species in gazetted forest is an option that should not be neglected. But the use of pioneer fast growing species is more appropriate than others slow growing species to reach the objective of the restoration of the forest that could be done at lower price while protecting against browsing and fire.
27. Relationship with technical Ministries and Services: The Project has strong relations with KFS, KWS, The Ministry of Water and Irrigation that are involved in the steering committee; so advice from these structures can be easily integrated in Project management. The KFS provides the communities with advice on tree species selection, provides the planting sites in gazetted forests, provides transport at certain times and will continue to care for the trees beyond the Project period. Nevertheless, there may be some difficulties resulting from differences in approach between GBM and KFS especially with the PELIS programme. The Kenya Army provides also transport and labour to assist the planting. 28. Relationship with Research is poor and insufficiently explored. Scientific background and basic data are little used by the Project. ICRAF library and services and those of University and other R4D organizations could be much more utilized.
x 29. Training and capacity building: The GBM training and capacity building given to extension officers (EO) and the tree nursery groups is important, and organized at Lang’ata training centre, Nairobi; it is the duty of the EO to extend training to the groups in the field. (Topics: seed production, nursery, food security, civic education and advocacy and Project management). Between 2006 and 2007, the 14 training/mobilization events were organized to train 1270 members; but most of training has not been put into trainer manuals form so that nothing was given to the TNG such as some aid memoir kind of pamphlet. It is imperative for GBM to have the training materials put in form of manuals like the civic education one. It is also important to put the TNG trainings into do-it-yourself pamphlets, which can be distributed to the group members. The trainings to extension officers are essentially practical and it should be advantageous for them to get a prospective overview through more information/re-fresher courses on strategically global land and forest management.
30. Technical and support tools: The Implementation Manual and Rules of Procedures of the Project have been recently revised but as far as reflections on compensation procedures are needed, that manual will probably evolve in the near future. The new highly performing computer system will serve for the analytical accountancy and for the Geographical Information System; so that GBM will have excellent tools not only for monitoring and evaluation of their Projects but also for managing them. GBM has to develop a scientific follow up of the Projects (environmental, economical and social impacts) with the help of external consultants associated with PhD students, research centres and universities. GBM also needs a technical and scientific library.
31. Internal communication: as all the Projects have the same global objectives, we recommend multiplying inter-Projects meetings to promote the exchange of experiences, to find joint solutions and to reinforce the GBM spirit; in addition it seems necessary to produce an internal GBM newsletter. External communication is essential to internationally promote GBM actions and to help in fundraising. The GBM internet site has to be improved by adding new pages presenting all the current Projects including video clips, data on trees planted, on tree behaviour and growth, on people incomes increase due to wood production and other products and services through GBM programmes and Projects. All these data should describe the current results and developments in the rural livelihood due to GBM actions.
32. Finance and accounting system and GIS system
These are linked through a relational database, allowing the synchronization of finance and geo-spatial data and most field activities (sites, nurseries and plantations) and financial operations (compensations). This is a very good tool but it remains to be developed and updated.
33. The Compensation system: according to the Ten Steps procedure, the compensation starts 6 months after planting, but it takes at least three months more for survival verification and payment of KShs 5 per seedling surviving. For the groups such a procedure is too long, beyond the fact that the token they are receiving is very small. Hence, it is recommended to have a first instalment of KShs 3 immediately after planting, paid independently of the survival rate, but taking into account all the work done in the nursery and at planting stage; and KShs 2, six month later, based on seedlings survival. Thereafter, the system would continue to run for the rest of the two-year period as currently managed by the Project.
xi Part 3: Achievements and field results
34. Local mobilization: 516 Tree Nursery Groups in 104 networks representing more than 7500 households, and about 60% of women, have been mobilized, on a voluntary basis by the Project. There is a high spirit of voluntarism, which drives the groups to endure a lot of difficulties. Such a mobilization has been the driving force of GBM since 32 years.
35. Local contribution: The number of days spent by the groups in the nurseries and tree plantations is high and constitute a considerable contribution in kind, work and money. Compared to the feasibility study amount of Euros 689,655, the community surpassed their contribution target by 12%, without taking into account all the other inputs that the community made, like using their own money, their own equipment/implements, giving out their own plots, etc. GBM assistance with potting bags is quite substantial but insufficient; GBM also assist the groups with fuelling KFS vehicles to transport seedlings and people to planting sites, also with carrying soil for some of the nurseries.
36. The “10 steps and 12 forms” procedure: is notably expected to deliver in time basic data on successive field operations and corresponding reporting, according to dedicated tasks and responsibilities. But the system in its application appears slow or constrained by various reasons, notably logistical issues including transportation of local Project staff.
37. Indigenous species knowledge and follow-up : the number is high - more than 40, with 10 to 12 dominant species, while little is known on most of these species: reproductive biology, ecology and silviculture from seed harvesting and handling to tree planting and plantation management in pure stands or in agroforestry systems. Accounting of trees at nurseries and planting sites are globally done according to 3 broad categories: indigenous, exotic and fruit trees species. Without detailed data (survival, growth) per species it is impossible to ensure the best monitoring of the plantations according to site specific conditions (soil and climate, land pressure, etc); and one may consider these plantations somehow experimental. The lack of fully rationalized selection and design of candidate tree species, with characterization and prioritization done on scientific basis, is a limitation to species diversification and watershed rehabilitation. Hence, it is suggested to set up a small unit (or to constitute a team) aiming at filling the methodological and scientific gap, in collaboration with University and research and knowledge centres.
38. Seedling production : 3,281,817 seedlings were ready for planting from 2007 to 2009 and an additional 1.2 million for further planting is a high figure while not sufficient to asses the success of tree planting and the development of plantations. The number of seedlings raised in nurseries have to be counted by species and compared with corresponding planted seedlings, and on each site, in terms of survival rate and sanitary conditions at successive intervals of time after tree planting (at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months); this will allow to accurately justify the compensations to be paid to the farmers and ensure the needed follow-up of the plantations.
39. Technical knowledge and local experience of TNG in the management of their nurseries (constraints, improved practices, etc.) are unequally shared between the groups. Some of them do not totally master certain techniques. Technical and scientific knowledge on nurseries and species raised (frequently newly introduced) is necessary to correctly manage the nursery schedule from seed harvesting to seedling plantation stage. Until now, most of this knowledge is lacking – or for the least it is insufficiently gathered, and be refreshed.
xii 40. Attendance of TNG members: it is usually strong at the beginning of the planting season, diminishes with successive operations – as labour force is required at the same time to initiate the cropping season. This unequal contribution of members to plantation work is taken into account by the group (chairman and its treasurer) at the time of the compensation payment. At TNG level, 48 groups from the 564 initial TNG left the Project since 2007. 41. Tree planting and mixture: holes are made before the onset of the rainy season (about 1100/ha). KFS and the Kenyan Army regularly provide their services for seedlings transportation. The species mixture in planting is entirely made by chance – as it comes by the planters, and depends largely on the numbers and availability of seedlings raised in nurseries. After planting, weeding is done two to three times during the rainy season; and watering is done during the dry season when needed. Green rangers do the follow-up and watching of the plantations with the assistance of members of the groups.
42. Counting of tree survival: it is based on a sampling rate of 50% and this is largely representative. As a whole, survival rates on the various sites planted are satisfying (>50 %) and in most cases good (> 75%), with the exception of the driest site, on Kikuyu escarpment due to livestock pressure and drought. On such a site, temporarily fenced blocks (3 to 5 years) should be experimented on with the view to allow and assess natural regeneration.
43. Number of trees planted: from 2006 to 2009, the Project planted a total number of 3,817,560 trees: 1,919,599 trees (about 1900 ha) in public lands, and 1,897,861 (about 1800 ha) in gazetted forests. The target of planting 2,000,000 trees (about 2000 ha) has largely been surpassed; and the total of surviving trees, about 2, 300,000, is itself overtaking the target.
44. Up dated and detailed data on plantations: appears difficult to collect in time and space because of the high number and large dispersal of the sites which have to be controlled each month (TNG) and at least two times a year (planting sites). As transportation is the main constraint, the Project should purchase, as soon as possible, motorbikes for the extension officers and bicycles for the green rangers. This will allow them to regularly visit, control and advise any work at nursery and plantation site levels; and therefore have more time devoted to other tasks, such as reporting, meetings and continuous professional training. Secondly, an operational link should be established between the nurseries database, the tree plantations database, the GIS database and the accounting database (survival and compensation system) 45. Compensation and delays: the system is based on tree survival rates and is a token of appreciation that GBM provides to the groups. Due to verification delay, the planting of 2006 was compensated in 2007, and that of 2007 in the year 2008. For these two years, the compensations respectively amounted KShs 6,464,301 and KShs 4,132,629; As a result, the figure for the planting of 2008 was not yet available at the time of the review and the last payments of the compensation will also have to be managed without too much delay after the end of the Project (in 2011, following the last plantation of 2010). In this perspective, some provisions need to be done by GBM and discussed with the donor.
46. Joining CFA and FMP initiatives: the Project should take advantage of the Community Forest Associations (CFA) and Forest Management Plans (FMP) initiatives to better prepare and involve the concerned TNG and their networks, with the view to participate in an integrated management of the Aberdare Forest ecosystem, including Water Resources User Associations, Community Managed Wildlife Conservation Areas, etc. GBM
xiii is identified as a major key player in such initiatives and has been involved in fostering the dialogues for formation of four CFA and the writing up of their FMP
47. Visibility: it is poor as visitors cannot get minimal information of the Project and share its experience on the web site. Expected web pages should be produced without delay before the end of the Project. Meanwhile, a school sensitization program has been ongoing, and a civic education manual has been adapted for public awareness. The video documentary is also in the production stage.
48. Replicability and scaling up: the Project methodology is simple and easily understandable by the target groups and other stakeholders. The conservation of the five major water towers of the country has taken a great national priority and international interest; so the Project has high replicability in similar areas.
49. Management and monitoring: since the recruitment of a Project Officer and Acting Executive Director, reporting to AFD has been adequate, and the required reports and returns are made in time; but expenditure of funds is delayed, especially compensation payments: for 2008, they are done only at 35%, when they should be accomplished by June 2009.
50. Impacts and limitations from the Project achievements:
- A large section of the local community in the Aberdare region, properly mobilized, truly adopted environmental conservation, and they will continue to commit in the long term; - This community, through TNG, learned how to organize themselves effectively for large scale public enterprises and how to network with stakeholders on the same;
- TNG acquired skills in nursery and planting techniques that they will continue to use for a long time for the good of the country, and Aberdare area notably;
- At 3 to 4 year old, the impact of trees planted in degraded forest sites is certainly modest in terms of water conservation and rehabilitation of forest ecosystem in the Aberdare. Expected impact in future will depend on the survival of these trees when mature and fully functional, individually and as an ecosystem - but in any case this impact is difficult to assess
- The group members planted trees on their farms that will provide them firewood, timber, etc. As a secondary objective, these trees will contribute to soil and water conservation; hence, they are part of an integrated watershed management, and should not be ignored. - A pool of well trained extension staff is in place. They will continue to be available for GBM work and for other NGOs and Projects in the country, for the benefit of the nation - The group members have been able to pay school fees with the compensation money and also provide food to their families even if for short periods; but very few started income generating activities to improve their livelihoods or families’ welfare.
Part 4: Proposed actions for the extended one year of the project (2010)
51. Adjustment of the compensation system: GBM has to adjust the compensation system so that a first part of the KShs 5 is immediately paid after tree planting (KShs 3), and the second part is paid after survival counting and checking (KShs 2).
52. Provision for compensation: GBM to make provision of funds, in consultation with the donor, for the payment of the last plantation and its compensation - before 2011;
53. Income generating activities (IGA): proposals to be studied in depth (diagnosis and design type) through external expertise. IGA should contribute both in environmental
xiv conservation and livelihoods, and in a sustainable manner, and be a matter of training to group members: how to start up an IGA, concepts and applications, requirements, including organizational, financial and marketing issues, registration, technical backup
54. Initiating a micro-credit system, in relationship with compensation: taking advantage of the proposed adjustment of the system and bridge it with micro-credit system for the groups on a pilot basis. Experts should be hired to study the (best) conditions of promoting micro-credit, in relationship with income generating activities.
55. Membership evolution and youth mobilization: due the disengagement of young members from certain TNG, GBM should conduct a comprehensive analysis of the situation and design strategies to attract the youth and explored their contribution in possible IGA initiatives, and entrepreneurship federating business and environment issues.
56. Programme officer recruitment: this is very much needed and to be done without any delay. One of the first actions of the officer could be to co-organize a workshop on community based management of forest (FMP) that constitutes a key entry point for further GBM and CFA activity in gazetted forests, their buffer zones and corresponding watersheds. 57. Strengthening the Steering Committee with high level representation and full commitment from GBM, donor and GOK representatives, to notably boost advocacy mechanisms, discuss the lessons learnt, develop partnerships, and consolidate actions -in addition with due critical appreciation and elaborated guidance of the Project for its best development and largest impact. Discussing the results and proposals of this report/mid-term assessment should constitute a priority in the agenda of the next Steering Committee.
58. Scheduled socio-economic study: the TOR could include the assessment of the efforts of the groups in giving time and money to establish the nurseries, plant trees, and take care of them; and of the net monetary value/outflow from the groups to the tree planting activity for social good. This information would be useful for arguing out issues on designing policy on community led environmental conservation. A study on the impact of on-farm tree planting is necessary, for example assessing the uses and impact of Eucalyptus spp, Grevillea robusta and indigenous species on the livelihoods of farmers as well as on the environment, with the objective to promote the organization of small farmers/tree planters so as they get the maximum returns from a rationalized and sustainable exploitation of their mature trees. 59. Reflections on tree plantations and watershed issues: initiate workshops on how to appropriately manage the plantations and rationalize the choice of the species as methodological and scientific basis in tree planting and management, and reflection regarding watershed issues are insufficiently developed.; reflection to be axed on watershed concept and integrated management, through soil and water conservation technologies, conservation agriculture and other ways of ecological intensification etc. within delineated (sub-) catchments-with the view to facilitate the preparation of forest management plans with CFA, in application of the Forest Act, make their voice listened to, and strengthen GBM action. 60. Evaluation and dissemination of results: GBM to initiate a systematic collection, analysis and classification of relevant field data and information and to design a workable approach for dissemination and sharing. Field data should be confronted to bibliographic information; regular measurements of trees (through ad hoc methodology to be designed) and
xv forms for assessing and monitoring both environmental conservation and socio-economic impact of the project will give solid results for the design of further plantations on other sites. The priority is to assist the TNG to improve their nursery records: types and numbers of seedlings, income and expenditure, work records, challenges being faced, and so on.
Students (under and post graduates from the University of Nairobi) could be associated in field data collection contributing notably in selection process of indigenous trees and management of indigenous germplasm. Environmental and socio-economic indicators could be defined for the monitoring and evaluation. Disseminating the results through workshops, communications, web site and publications should be initiated to publicize the GBM experience.
61. GBM external and internal communication: to reinforce it external communication, GBM has to develop the missing web pages (including videos) on the project, possibly by contracting a web master; on internal communication side, it is recommended to develop a newsletter in kikuyu, aiming at sharing experiences, technical and organizational aspects, and at informing on various issues from GBM and stakeholders, to reinforce the spirit of the GBM groups membership. A consultant may be needed to design this newsletter.
62. Training and capacity building: improve training of extension officers by extending its scope to integrated land management, related socio-economics issues, conservation of the environment, sustainable development, etc. and refresher courses on silviculture and other practical matters; design an improved curriculum for the groups on tree nursery techniques and articulate this in a TNG training manual and practical do-it-yourself pamphlets for TNG. Editing of training materials would need a consultant.
63. Technical aspects, at nursery and planting sites levels: significant technical improvements at nursery level as well as at plantation level are needed and possible at one year scale. These are detailed in the Appendix 13. GBM should provide a minimum of water equipment that the TNG cannot afford: water tanks and pipes; and in some cases water pumps and other tools; and the recruitment of nursery attendants for some nurseries.
Part 5: For the future – proposals
64. Integrated land use and watershed management approach: as the effectiveness of a watershed is essentially functional at global scale with land use variations, its management has to be studied through an integrated approach, bridging its various scales and components and from which a model could be designed as a pilot project applicable on other watersheds.
65. The Aberdare ecosystem, consists of three imbricate zones: 1. the central high elevation National Park that is now protected by an electric fence: its efficiency in water conservation will grow with time; 2. the surrounding gazetted forests that will soon have their own Participatory Management Plan thus a sustainable management that will reduce anthropogenic pressure and improve water catchment efficiency; 3. The largest zone, of adjacent farmlands, from the forest line to the lowest slopes where farmers have been planting many trees with the support of GBM for a long time, but tree based systems could be intensified for water conservation improvement. The hydrological network interconnects the 3 zones which have to be integrated in a global land use and watershed management plan, through the:
xvi 66. Development of a global land use engineering strategy: based on both agricultural production improvement through ecological intensification, and on restoration of all ecological services rendered by ecosystems. In this perspective a feasibility study is needed which would propose the selection of water (sub-)catchment on which action be concentrated after, characterizing it, assessing ex ante the conditions of local communities participation and notably adoption of technologies and innovations in a sustainable way. This could be done during the last year of the Project in good continuation with its activity through a workshop on global land use and watershed management in the Aberdare region, involving all concerned stakeholders and donors. The workshop should give ground to set up a feasibility study.
67. Follow-up of tree plantations on forests or public sites should be done to improve knowledge on indigenous tree species that are often slow growing and will not have significant environmental impact before 10 to 20 years. This follow-up will assess tree performance, ecological requirement, growth and potential environmental impacts and give a solid scientific basis for future plantations on tree management, notably, in agroforestry systems, Collaboration with university and research centres (through students involvement) is needed. In addition, it is recommended to deal with market organization and issues, so that the farmers can optimize their revenues (sale of wood and non-wood products); and corollary to come up with techniques for improving the quality of these products through performing processing techniques to guarantee value added and the best prices to the producers.
68. Income generating activities (IGA): A specific GBM design for IGA promotion to be thought about based on micro projects, so that contribute significantly in raising the standards of living group members and that have an environmental conservation value. Training has to be provided on how to start such IGA, along with production technical backup and facilitation on marketing issues (access, etc) . Seed capital to start up IGA should be provided to groups through a micro-credit system that will be recovered (at least partly) from compensation. This has to be programmed and tested with appropriate external expertise.
69. Replication to other water towers: the current project methodology is simple in its design and easily understandable by the target groups and other stakeholders; hence and although improvable, it is a highly replicable model for similar degraded areas and watershed
xvii TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements... iii
Executive Summary ... v
List of Tables ... xxii
List of figures... xxii
List of Maps ... xxiii
List of Appendices ... xxiii
List of Abbreviations ... xxiv
1. Introduction... 1
PART 1: ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEXT ... 3
2. Terms of references of the Mid Term Review AFD/GBM... 3
2.1. Objectives of the Review ... 3
2.2. Approach and Methodology ... 3
3. Context and objectives of the Project ... 5
3.1. Kenya environment, rural development and management of natural resources... 5
3.1.1. Rural development and the degradation of forests and biodiversity... 5
3.1.1.1. Socio-economics and rural development ... 5
3.1.1.2. Forests, management and overexploitation... 5
3.1.1.3. Biodiversity, richness, local utilization and conservation ... 7
3.1.2. Mountain forests and their role as water towers within river basins ... 7
3.2. The Aberdare range... 9
3.2.1. Biogeographic region and location ... 9
3.2.2. Climatic and soils traits... 9
3.2.2.1. Climate... 9
3.2.2.2. Landforms, main rivers and soils... 14
3.2.3. Socio-economic traits... 15
3.2.4. Agro-ecological zones and land use in the Aberdare... 16
3.2.4.1. The National Park (NP) ... 16
3.2.4.2. The Gazetted Forests... 16
3.2.4.3. The Tea-Dairy zone ... 17
3.2.4.4. The Coffee-annual crops zone ... 19
3.2.4.4. The Coffee-annual crops zone ... 20
3.2.5. Forest threats and management in the Aberdare range... 20
3.2.6. Aberdare and wood production... 23
3.3. International and national legal frameworks... 26
3.3.1. International Conventions related to environmental issues ... 26
3.3.2. Kenyan policies and reforms and their meaning for the local communities... 26
3.3.2.1. The Forests Act, 2005, and its implementation through PFM... 26
3.3.2.2. The Water Act, 2002, major changes and expectations... 27
3.3.2.3. Land agriculture and wildlife policies and acts, and property rights... 28
3.4 Historical background within GBM vision and approach ... 29
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3.4.2 GBM Approach... 29
3.4.2.1. GBM Phase 1 (1977-1997) ... 29
3.4.2.2. GBM Phase 2 (1998 – until now and future)... 30
3.5 The GBM/AFD Aberdare Reforestation Project ... 32
3.5.1. Setting up and funding ... 32
3.5.2. Location of the Project... 33
3.5.3. Project rationale ... 34
3.5.4. Project objectives and expected outputs ... 34
PART 2: PROJECT DIAGNOSIS, ORGANIZATION AND ... MANAGEMENT ... 39
4 Organization and management of the Project at its different hierarchical and operational levels ... 39
4.4 Current Project staffing and organization ... 39
4.4.1 Head of Project ... 39
4.4.2. Downstream at field level ... 39
4.4.2.1. Extension Officers, Green Rangers and Green Volunteers ... 39
4.4.2.2 Local Coordination Units (LCU)... 40
4.4.3 Upstream, at GBM Head Quarters level ... 40
4.4.3.1. Interaction with internal GBM management and services... 40
4.4.3.2. Interactions with various interest groups ... 40
4.4.3.3 Steering and Programs Management Committees... 41
4.5 Framework and implementation of the Project... 41
4.5.1. Organizational analysis and management issues ... 41
4.5.2 Proposals ... 42
4.6 Monitoring and evaluation, Project impacts ... 42
4.6.1. Control organization ... 42
4.6.2 Forms and their possible improvement... 44
4.6.3. Impacts studies... 44
4.6.4. Monitoring and evaluation... 45
4.7 External expertise... 45
4.7.1. State of art ... 45
4.7.2 Environmental baseline study ... 45
4.7.3 Scheduled socio-economic study... 46
4.7.4 Proposals ... 46
4.8 Relationship with the Project donor, interaction with other donors ... 46
4.8.1 AFD... 47
4.8.2 USAID ... 47
4.8.3 The World Bank... 47
4.9. Relationship with main stakeholders ... 49
4.9.1. Relationship with technical Ministries and Services ... 49
4.9.2. Relationship with Research... 50
xix
4.10.1 Training of extension officers... 51
4.10.2 Training of the tree nursery groups (TNG)... 52
4.10.3. Proposals ... 53
4.10.4. Technical and support tools ... 53
5 Finance and accounting... 56
5.1. Finance and Accounting ... 56
5.2. The Compensation system ... 56
PART 3: ACHIEVEMENTS AND FIELD RESULTS ... 59
6. Outputs and deliverables per component... 59
6. 1. Rehabilitation of the degraded areas of the Aberdare forest ecosystem in the public lands (component 1)... 59
6.1.1 Forest ecosystems rehabilitated ... 59
6.1.1.1. Voluntarism as the basis to Forest ecosystem rehabilitation, contributions in time and money of the groups... 59
6.1.1.2. Methodological framework: the 10 steps and 12 forms system ... 60
6.1.1.3. Knowledge on indigenous species and accounting per species ... 61
6.1.1.4. Species planted in forest sites, types and criteria of selection ... 61
6.1.1.5. Proposed basic information and methodology for species selection and site characterization to be matched with ... 63
6.1.1.6. The case of species planted on public sites... 64
6.1.1.7. Seedlings produced by the Project... 65
6.1.1.8. GBM assistance to the groups and their nurseries ... 67
6.1.1.9. Technical knowledge, information sharing at nursery level... 67
6.1.1.10. Plantation, mode and tree species combinations... 68
6.1.1.11. Assessing tree survival, sampling and variability of results ... 69
6.1.1.12. Number of trees planted in total and on different sites... 70
6.1.1.13. Accuracy and constraints in collecting data on plantations ... 73
6.1.1.14. Proposals to alleviate constraints in the follow up of plantations and data collection on their survival in time ... 74
6.1.1.15. Amount of compensation paid to the groups ... 75
6.1.2 Relevant skills introduced in communities for tree planting and ... 75
protection, and related issues ... 75
6.1.3. New livelihoods promoted for the sustainable use of forest... 75
ecosystem, especially for women ... 75
6.2 Public and institutional awareness and training... 76
dissemination and communication (component 2) ... 76
6.2.1. New consiousness in the communities for sustainable forest... 76
ecosystems management... 76
6.2.1.1. From awareness to group mobilization, formation and their training ... 76
6.2.1.2. Number of Tree Nursery Groups and Networks constituted and groups commitment ... 77
6.2.1.3. Women involvement... 78
xx
public policies promoted... 78
6.2.2.1. Promotion of community based management of forests, and related partnership... 78
6.2.2.2. Local Coordination Unit action ... 79
6.2.2.3. The Project and the newly established Community Forest Associations (CFA) ... 79
6.2.3. Outcomes of a watershed forest rehabilitation pilot Project... 80
disseminated throughout the remaining four water towers... 80
of the country and beyond... 80
6.2.3.1. Dissemination of results, Project visibility and replicability ... 80
6.3. Project management and monitoring ... 81
6.4. Summary impacts... 82
PART 4: PROPOSED ACTIONS FOR THE EXTENDED ... ONE YEAR OF THE PROJECT (2010) ... 85
7.1 Adjustment of the compensation system ... 85
7.2 Provision for 2009 and 2010 compensation, use of funds in time... 85
7.3 Income generating activities (IGA), pilot studies and training... 86
7.4 Initiating a micro-credit system, in relationship with compensation... 86
7.5. Membership evolution and youth mobilization ... 86
7.6. Programme officer recruitment... 87
7.7. Strengthening the Steering Committee (SC)... 87
7.8. Defining and implementing the socio-economic study ... 88
7.9. Reflections on tree plantations and watershed issues ... 88
7.10. Strengthening methodological and scientific basis, assessment and dissemination of results... 89
7.11. GBM external and internal communication... 90
7.12. Training and capacity building ... 91
7.13. Technical aspects, at nursery and planting sites levels ... 91
PART 5: FOR THE FUTURE - PROPOSALS... 93
8.1. Integrated land use & watershed management: from needed improved approach to feasibility study and pilot Project ... 93
8.1.1. Context, rationale and priority entries ... 93
8.1.2. Proposal... 94
8.2. Follow-up of tree plantations, up scaling... 95
8.2.1. Rationale and objectives ... 95
xxi
8.3. Income generating activities (IGA) ... 96
8.3.1 Design of integrative and innovative IGA ... 96
8.3.2 Training in IGA... 97
8.3.3 Micro-credit system ... 97
8.4. Replication to other water towers ... 97
8.4.1. Context... 97
8.4.2. Proposal... 97
Appendix 1: Program of the mission (17/09/09 – 03/10/2009) ... 106
Appendix 2: List of institutions and persons met during the AFD/GBM Project Review Mission ... 103
Appendix 3: Terms of Reference... 106
Appendix 4: Documents consulted ... 120
Appendix 5: Interviews Guidelines ... 127
Appendix 6: GBM ten pteps procedure (Revised in 2007)... 129
Appendix 7: Climatic data for the Aberdare range and adjacent regions ... 133
Appendix 8: The logical framework of the Project ... 135
Appendix 9: List of the Extension Officers of GBM/AFD Project and their qualifications... 137
Appendix 10: Green Volunteers (GV) and Green Rangers (GR) of theAFD/GBM Project and corresponding households... 138
Appendix 11: GBM Organization Chart... 141
Appendix 12: Species planted by the AFD/GBM Project and ... 142
information on some major tree species ... 142
Appendix 13: Recommendations on technical aspects, at TNG and ... 166
planting sites levels ... 166
Appendix 14: GBM Tree Nursery Groups: Statistics Form ... 172
Appendix 15: Summary Table of Interviews with Tree Planting Groups ... 173 Appendix 16: GBM AFD Project site map... Appendix 17: Eight tables of photographs of GBM AFD Project sites, nurseries and TNG ...
xxii
List of Tables
Table 1: Annual rainfall in Aberdare range and its surroundings Table 2: Population of the Central province per district
Table 3: Vegetation types in Aberdare gazetted forests
Table 4: Best suited species planted according to the purpose and the planting site Table 5: Funding of the Project, as per contributions and components
Table 6: Forms used in relation to the 10 steps procedure Table 7: Training on formation of TNG and networks
Table 8: Training on formation of Community Forest Associations (CFA) Table 9: Seedlings ready and not ready in the tree nurseries in 2007
Table 10: Seedlings ready and not ready in the tree nurseries as at June 2008 Table 11: Seedlings ready and not ready in the tree nurseries as at June 2009
Table 12: Number of trees planted and their survival in public lands and forests per Constituency in 2006
Table 13: Number of trees planted in public lands and forests per Constituency in the first and second semester of 2007
Table 14: Number of trees planted per Constituency and their survival in public lands and forests, April-May planting season, 2008
Table 15: Tree planting events in the Aberdares Forest Ecosystem in April- May planting season, 2009, with the assistance of the Kenyan army
Table 16: Summary of Local Coordination Units of the Project
List of figures
Figure 1: The GBM ten steps procedure: a summary
Figure 2: Budget figures for 2009 and expenses for the midterm year for the GBM/AFD Project
xxiii
List of Maps
Map 1:Major drainage areas and rivers of Kenya Map 2: Nairobi water supply
Map 3:Aberdare Range within Central Province Map 4: Vegetation in the Aberdare range
Map 5: Land use in the Aberdare range
Map 6: Population below the rural poverty line in Central Province Map 7: Aerial survey of the Aberdare Range forests
Map 8: Extension of tree planting in farmlands and land use evolution between 1987 and 2006 in the Aberdare range
Map 9: Area and constituencies covered by the Project
List of Appendices
Appendix 1: Program of the mission
Appendix 2: List of institutions and persons met during the AFD/GBM Project review
Appendix 3: Terms of Reference Appendix 4: Documents consulted Appendix 5: Interviews guidelines
Appendix 6: GBM 10 steps procedure (Revised in 2007)
Appendix 7: Climatic data for Aberdare Range and adjacent regions Appendix 8: Logical framework of the Project
Appendix 9: Extension Officers
Appendix 10: Green Volunteers and Green Rangers of the GBM/AFD Project and corresponding households
Appendix 11: GBM organization chart
Appendix 12: Species planted by AFD/GBM Project and information on some major tree species
Appendix 13: Recommendations on technical aspects, at TNG and planting sites levels Appendix 14: Statistics Form
Appendix 15: Summary table of interviews with TNGs Appendix 16: GBM AFD Project site map
xxiv
List of Abbreviations
AEZ Agro-Ecological Zones
AFD Agence Française de Développement CFA Community Forest Association CBD Convention of Biological Diversity CBS Central Bureau of Statistics
CDM Clean Development Mechanism
CIRAD Centre de coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CO2 Carbon dioxide
DRSRS Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing EO Extension Officer
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FCA Forest Conservancy Areas FGD Focused group discussion GBM Green Belt Movement
GIS Geographic Information Systems GOK Governement of Kenya
GR Green Ranger GV Green Volunteer
IGA Income Generating Activities
ILRI International Livestock Research Institute KEFRI Kenya Forestry Research Institute
KENGEN Kenya Electricity Generating Company KFS Kenya Forest Service
LCU Local Coordination Unit MDG Millennium Development Goals
MEMR Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources NP National Park
NWSS National Water Services Strategy
PELIS Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme PFM Participatory Forest Management
R4D Research for Development RLA Registered Land Act SC Steering Committee
TEK Traditional Ecological Knowledge TNG Tree Nursery Group
TOR Terms of Reference
USAID United States Agency for International Development UNEP United Nations Environment Program
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change WARMA Water Resources Management Authority
